Gilliver Residence

Set in Vaucluse overlooking Sydney harbour, Gilliver Residence reworks a previously disjointed combination of spaces into a single, considered home. buck&simple applied one cohesive material treatment across the existing building fabric, stitching the rooms into a continuous tactile sequence that carries you from the entrance through to an uninterrupted view of the water.

A minimal, refined palette forms the backdrop, lifted by natural timber, stone and brass. Each material is allowed to settle and patina over time, building character rather than hiding it. The same restraint shapes how the spaces are handled: expansive areas of operable glazing with fine, minimal detailing open the entertaining areas to the harbour and suit a relaxed, contemporary way of living.

A carefully placed oculus draws daylight into the heart of the plan and marks the transition between the public and private parts of the house. In the private rooms the mood is deliberately softer, with a more decorative approach that brings a comfortable sense of scale and detail. The result is a timeless, well-resolved residence that makes the most of both its natural and built context.

Completed 2018.

Architect: buck&simple. Photography: Simon Whitbread.